Pedal



Feb. 23, l1943"- N. E. WAHLBERG y 2,312,277

PEbAL Filed sept. 3, 1940 Tjy '4 i nwENToR.4 /LS ER//f WAHLISERG Patented Feb. 23, 1943 PEDALv Nils Erik Wahlberg, Kenosha, Wis., assignor. to Nash-Kelvinator Corporatiom Kenosha, Wis., a corporation of Maryland` Applicationscptember 3, 1940., SerialiNo; 35,5;169

(Cl. 'I4-560i) 1'7'Cl'aims.

This invention relates to pedals andv has particular reference to control pedals such asV are used for operating the clutch and bra-kesfof an automotive, vehicle.

' It isfan object of .this invention to provide aypedal. which will. be lighter and cheaper to construct than pedalsused heretofore.

It is another object of thisv invention to pro- Videapedal', the arm of which is of folded sheetl metal construction.

' It is another object of this invention: to provide a pedal of folded sheet metal construction which isreenforced at the points of greatest stress.

Otherobjects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following descriptionplaneindicated by the line 4 4 in Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure r represents a section taken along a plane indicated by the line 5-5 in Figure 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 6 represents a section taken along a plane indicated by the line 6 6 in Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

The pedal consists generally of an arm section I0, and a rim sectionl2, on the end ofwhich ismounted an operating pad I4. The arm section I 0 is made of folded sheet metal construction in which a sheet of metal is stamped or folded into a hollow generally rectangularcrosssection' with flanges I6 extending below the hollow cross sectional portion. together as by spot welding and form a rib along the lower edge of the arm. The arm II) increasesy incrosssectional dimension as it approaches the lower end, and the side walls of the arm are pierced and extruded as at I8. At the lower end of the arm Il! the flanges It are enlarged sol as to form a crank portion 2l] whichfis apertured` asat 22 (see Figure 2). The crank portions'2il ofthe flanges I6 and the lower end of the arm; Iuare reenforced by a flat plate 24 Which isf secured, as by welding, between the crank portions of the flanges i6 and. extends into the hollow cross sectional portion of the arm I9.

Plate 24.` is pierced as at 2t to form a holewhich isco-ax-ially aligned with the extruded holes I8 in the sides of the arm I0; The-plate 24 isA also` pierced-toform a-ho1e coaxia1 with the holes 22 in the crank portions 20.

The flanges I6, are securedover'portion 28 of the rimk I2.

The rim. I2/ is formed'by forgingfor bendingbar. stock into agenerally arcuate shape about theeaperture lf3I as a center. The lower endhofthesrim isbentradially inwardly; asy at 243'` aridi fits Within the hollow cross: sectionall portion-of the army I!) where itis secured as by rivetsl'; The upper end of the rimk I-L is bent. at" right angles from the plan-e ofthe arm and rim.` asiat 3Iand` is attened sonasv to receive theJ -i4 which is secured: to the bent over portiony Sili'by rivets32. The rivets 325. aisarsecurea` metal,y finigert34; to the. under; sideoftheA bentoverY por` tion'S-il. The finger 34 is bentdownwardly away from the pad I4 and projects beyondthe side ofA the padll, The-finger is operableto Contact and depress any auxiliary' switch such:V as the starter. button of the automobile when. the pedal` pressed completely down. The linger is'fbentl away from the'backiofthe pad I4 sothat atsuitl able rubber pad (not shown) may be ttediover: the. metalpad |14 if desired.

Positioned-near the lower end of the rim por'`` tion'. I2. is a stop plate 36V which; isYpuncl'l'ed'iny the'cent'er so as to fit over the rirn--.I2. One si'd'e of the punched portion is bent'down in ata'bitB-l which may be welded tothe sideiof: the rimzportion: I2 to secure the. stop plate in place; The.

stop plate 36: is'arrangedy to engage the bottom"k surface of theftoe board of an automobile td limit the upward movement ofi the pedali.

The pedal is arranged to'be supportedvupona.

shaft (not shown) which may be passed:throughthe extruded holes I3 inthe end of the arm` It: andl through the apertureZG inthe re'enforcing The apertures 22 inthe crankfportion 2l]`- ofthe pedal isoffset from the apertureslvf plate 24.

and is adapted to receive a lever` for connect ing the pedal to a clutch or bra-ke mechanism for operating the mechanism by the pedal. vIt` Willbe noted that the arm portion |33 has a gen erally straight upper edge and' is symmetrical about theupper edge so that the extruded por; tions I8'and` the flanges U5 and' crank portions 20 may be formed in their proper planes with respect to the sides of the arm I9 at thel samemechanism to be controlled'b'y the plate 24; and at its upper end where the shear forces of thev rim portion are applied to the armby the bent of the arm Ii) is subjected mainly tor bending forces which areqeasily withstoodbythehollow cross` section oflthe.4 arm;v

'While I" have describedmy inventiorrin' sonic" detail, I intend this description to be an example After theblank hasvb'ee'ny stamped and:-

'Ihe pedal is reenforced" wherei'it' TheA midLsection" only and not as a limitation of my invention to which I make the following claims:

1. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction forming a box section, flanges extending from said box section along one side thereof, a reinforcing plate having an edge Dortion secured between said flanges at one end of said box section and having its other edge portion extending into but spaced from the walls of said box section, and a rim portion of solid cross section secured to the other end of said arm portion.

2. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction having a box section, a rim portion of solid cross section secured to one end of said arm portion, said rim portion being secured within the end of said folded arm portion, flanges extending from one side of said box section, and a reinforcing plate secured between said flanges at the other end of said box section, said plate extending into said box section and having a portion spaced from the walls of said box section defining an aperture for receiving a supporting member for said arm.

3. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction having a box section, flanges integral with said box section and secured together along one side of said box section to form an edge portion, and a rim portion of constant solid cross section.

4. A pedal comprising an open ended arm portion of folded metal construction having a box section, and a rim portion of constant solid cross section, said rim portion having a bent over end section secured within the open end of said box section.

5. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction, said arm having a box section with flanges extending from one edge thereof, said anges being secured together throughout most of their length, a reinforcing plate secured between said flanges at one end of said arm portion and extending into said box section, and a rim portion of solid cross section secured within the box section of said arm portion.

6. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction, said arm having a hollow cross section with flanges extending from one edge thereof, and a rim section of solid cross section secured within the hollow cross section of said arm portion, the end of said hollow arm portion opposite said rim portion being extruded and pierced to receive a supporting shaft.

7. Apedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction having a hollow cross section increasing in size toward the lower end thereof, flanges formed along one edge of said hollow portion, said flanges being increased in size to form a crank portion near the lower end ,of said arm, and an extruded portion at the lower end of said arm.

8. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction having a hollow cross section increasing in size toward the lower end thereof, flanges formed along one edge of said hollow portion, said flanges being increased in size to form a crank portion near the lower end of said arm, an extruded portion at the lower end of said arm, and a plate, the lower end of said arm being reenforced by said plate secured between the crank portions of said flanges and extending into the hollow section of said arm.

9. A pedal comprising an arm portion of folded metal construction having a hollow cross section increasing in size toward the lower end thereof,

flanges formed along one edge of said hollow portion, said flanges being increased in size to form crank portions near the lower end of said arm, an extruded portion at the lower end of said arm, and a plate, the lower end of said arm being reenforced by said plate secured between the crank portions of said flanges and extending into the hollow section of said arm, said plate and crank portions of said flanges being pierced to receive an operating connection.

10. Pedal structure comprising an arm portion of sheet metal construction, said arm including spaced side portions, flanges bent from the free edges of said side portions into abutting relationship, and crank portions extending from one end of said side portions in spaced relationship, said flanges being symmetrical about an edge of said arm portion.

11. A pedal having an arm portion of folded sheet metal and including side wall portions, said side wall portions being extruded around apertures at one end, and flanges integral with and extending along the edges of and parallel to said side wall portions, said flanges and extruded portions being symmetrical with respect to an axis extending through the central portion of the end wall opposite said flanges.

l2. Pedal structure comprising an arm of folded sheet metal having a hollow cross section, the sides of said arm having mating anges extending along one edge thereof, said flanges being welded together, and a reinforcing plate secured between said flanges and extending into said hollow cross section, said plate defining an aperture, the sides of said arm defining extruded apertures aligned with said first mentioned aperture.

13. Pedal structure comprising an arm of folded sheet metal construction having a hollow cross section, mating flanges extending from the sides of said arm and along one edge thereof, the ends of said flanges being increased in size to form a crank extending from the edge of said arm, and a reenforcing plate secured between the crank Y portions of said flanges.

14. A pedal comprising an arm portion of box section including a sheet metal member having a folded edge and a flanged edge and a. reinforcing plate positioned between the flanges of said flanged edge and extending into said box section and having its free edge spaced from the walls of said box section.

15. A pedal construction comprising a member of box section and a reinforcing plate extending through one side of said member into said box section in spaced relationship with respect to the walls of said box section.

16. A pedal construction comprising an arm of tubular cross section, pierced and outwardly extruded portions in said arm at one end thereof, and a reinforcing plate secured at one edge to said arm and having its other edge extending into said tubular section adjacent said pierced and extruded portions.

1'7. A pedal construction comprising an arm of tubular cross section, pierced and outwardly extruded portions in said arm at one end thereof, and a reinforcing plate secured at one edge to said arm and having its other edge extending into said tubular section adjacent said pierced and extruded portions, said plate dening an aperture aligned with the apertures defined by said extruded portions.

NILS ERIK WAHLBERG. 

